Well operating mechanism



Jan. 3, 1939.

c. ATHY WELL OPERATING MECHANISM 2 SheetS Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1936 I'll'lll g In; .2 Fun F l ll hm m m "rfzrrw yr li -Jan.3, 1939. c. R..ATHY 2,142,552 k I WELL OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ternational-Stacey Corporation,

Columbus,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 9, 1936, Serial No. 109,852

13 Claims. (01. 74-103) This invention relatesto well operating mechanism and is particularly directed ,toa walking beam mechanism, its connection with the polish rod and the counter-weight mechanism employed to balance theweight of the string of sucker rods fromwhich the pump is suspended.

Frequently when well operating mechanisms of the character above referred to are being constructed, inaccuracies of workmanship cause misalignment of the various parts and when the mechanism is put into active use, these misalignments result in the introduction of stresses and strains and consequent premature destruction of parts.

It is an object of the invention to construct a walking beam and its associated mechanism embodying some flexible or adjustable connections which will permit final aligning of certain of the parts after the mechanism has been located ad- .l'acent the well to be operated.

A further object of the invention resides in the construction of a novel connection between the polish rod and the mule head carried by the forward end of the walking beam.

A still further object resides in the provision of anovel counter-weight embodying separate sectionswhich can be comparatively easily handled, the said sections being removable to vary the gross weight of the counter-weight.

0 It is also an object of the invention to provide novel attaching means for the counterweight sections which will permit a desired number of the sections to be removed and the remaining sections to be securely retained in connection 5 with the beam.

With the above objects in View and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as particularly pointed out in the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a walking beam and its associated mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is' a" vertical longitudinal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

0' Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the upper portion:

of them ule head carried by the forward end of the walking beam; I Fig.5 is a similar view of the lower end of th which connects the polish rod with the *muTe hadj Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectionalview through the walking beam and the associated counter-balance mechanism, the plane of the section being indicated by the line VIVI of Fig, 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line VIIVII of Fi 6;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line VIII-VII of Fig. 7; 10

Fig. 9 is a similar View on the line IX-IX of Fi '7; i

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on the line X-X of Fig. 8; I

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the 15 counter-weight sections. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the base supporting the well operating mechanism is indicated bythe numeral l. Mounted upon the base I is a suitable prime mover which in this instance has been illustrated as an internal combustion engine 2. Power reduction mechanism 3,is connected by a drive belt 4 with the engine 2, whereby twin cranks 5 will be rotated in timed relation by said engine. Arising from the base I at one end thereof is. a Samson frame 6 to the upper end of which is pivotally mounted as at l for rocking movement an I-section walking beam 8. Intermediate the pivotal mounting I and the rear end of the beam}, the latter is provided with a transversely extending member formed at its ends with pivot studs 9'. Pitmans l0 connect the studs 9 withsimilar studs ll carried at the outer end portion of the cranks 5 whereby the walking beam will be rocked in a vertical plane when the cranks are turned by the engine 2.

The forward end of the beam 8 has rigidly secured thereto by welding orother means a pair of upwardly projecting bracket members 12. The members l2 are perforated at their upper portions for the reception'of a round bar l3 forming the pivotal support of a yoke member l4received between the brackets 12. Secured to the yoke I4 and projecting'from the front face thereof is a short pin' l5, which extends through an opening formed in a cross brace l6 provided at the upper end of a mule head IT. This arrangement permits the mule head 11 to swing about the pin 15 in a vertical plane which is at right angles to the longitudinal center of the walking beam. When the mechanism is positioned above a well, it is so placed that the. pin I5 will be in registration with the well. The mule head can then be adjusted on the pin so that when the beam rocks,

the cable' or other tool supporting mechanism will 5 run true on the arcuate outer track surface |8 formed on the mule head.

To look the mule head in its positions of adjustment, the brace I6 is formed with drilled openings positioned radially with respect to the pin 5 and through which bolts |9 project. The openings in the brace register with arcuate slots formed in the yoke member and the shanks of the bolts l9 project therethrough and are provided at the back of the yoke with nuts 2|. When the nuts 2| are tightened, the mule head will be locked securely in its adjusted position.

The mule head and the yoke are also capable of being swung about the bar |3 to position the mule head above the beam and Within the length of the latter when it is desired to temporarily remove the mule head from active service. To look the mule head in an active position against swinging movement about the bar 53, an angular cross brace 22 is provided which registers with a similar angular member 23 secured to the under side of the beam at the front end thereof. The member 23 is formed to include an arcuate slot 24 through which a bolt 25 carried by the brace 22 is adapted to project. This bolt locks the mule head in active position and assists the bolts l9 in holding the mule head in its adjusted position.

Clamped to the upper end of the mule head by the plate 26 and screws 21 are a pair of chain elements 28. These elements extend downward over i the arcuate track face |8 of the mule head and carry at their lower ends a hanger 29- through which projects the upper end of a polish rod 30. A clamp block 3| is secured to the upper end of the rod 30 and rests upon the hanger 29 to support the rod in connection with the lowerv ends of the chain elements 28. As the beam rocks, the rod is moved up and down in the manner well known in the art. As the chains are flexible, they will readily conform to the arcuate or curved track 7 surface of the mule head.

The rear end of the walking beam is provided with a counterweight 32 which offsets the load of the rods extending to the pump in the well. This counter-weight is constructed of a plurality of sections 33, shown more particularly in Fig. 11. The weight section 33 is rectangular when viewed in plan and is provided with transversely extending slots 34 opening to one of the longitudinal sides. Near the other side adjacent the ends of the section, the top surface is provided with depressions or cups 35 while the under or bottom surface is provided with bosses 36 in vertical registration with the depressions. When one weight section is positioned on another section, the bosses 36 of the upper section will be received in the depressions of the lower section and the two sections will then be prevented from sliding laterally relative to one another.

- To position the sections 33 relative to the beam, there is secured to the under side of the beam at one end a pair of extra thick weight blocks 31.

The upper surface of these blocks are grooved to receive the lower flange of the beam. The blocks 31 are provided with openings 38 through which tie bolts 39 extend, the upper ends of the bolts passing through aligned openings formed in a plate 40 positioned on the top flange of the beam.,

The under sides of the blocks 3! are counter-bored around the openings 38 to receive the heads of the bolts 39. One set of the sections 33 is placed above the block 3! on each side of the beam with the open end of slots 34 toward the web of the beam. Clamp and lock nuts 49a carried by the bolts 39 are then adjusted to securely lock the sections against vertical separation, the bosses 36 positioned in the cups 35 preventing lateral separation.

To add additional sections extra long tie bolts 4| and Ma are provided which pass through the plate 40 and the blocks 31 and extend a substantial distance below the lower flange of the beam. Two of the bolts 4| extend through the beam on the center line thereof and to avoid weakening the beam at this point, the vertical web of the beam has tubular members welded thereto through which the bolts 4|a pass. The bolts 39, 4| and 4| :1 are arranged on a square which will permit some of the sections 33 to be arranged longitudinally while others are arranged transversely. This particular arrangement enables the interfitting lugs and sockets to tie all the weights together without having the bolts pass through an entirely closed hole in the weights. At the lower end a plate 42 is positioned on the long tie bolts 4| and 4 la for the purpose of preventing any lateral movement at this point. Lock nuts 43 are provided at the upper ends of the bolts 4| and Ma to draw the additional weight sections into firm contact with the undersides of the blocks 31.

To facilitate the handling of the weight sections, handle loops 44 are secured to each end of the sections at the time the latter are being made. By loosening the nuts 43, the weight sections below the blocks 37 may be lowered sufficiently to allow the top section to be raised until the bosses 36 thereon free the cups 35 on the next section. The weight section can then be moved laterally to remove the same from the beam. Through the provision of these removable weight sections, the gross weight of the counter-weight may be varied on the location to meet changing conditions.

While I have shown and described the invention in its preferred form, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made in the mechanical construction of the various parts of the mechanism without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Well operating mechanism comprising a base, a Samson frame arising from said base, a walking beam mounted for rocking movement on said Samson frame, and a cable receiving head supported at one end of said beam for pivotal movement in a vertical plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said beam.

2. Well operating mechanism comprising a base, a Samson frame extending upwardly from said base, a walking beam mounted for rocking movement on said Samson frame, a yoke pivotally supported at one end of said beam for swinging movement in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said beam, and a cable receiving head pivotally connected with said yoke whereby said head may be adjusted in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said beam.

3. Well operating mechanism comprising a base, a Samson frame carried by said base, a walking beam mounted for rocking movement on said Samson frame, upwardly extending brackets provided adjacent one end of said beam, a transversely extending rod carried by said brackets, a yoke member pivotally supported by said rod, and a cable receiving head removably carried by said yoke member whereby said head may be adjusted in a plane extending at right angles to the axis of said beam.

4. A walking beam comprising a structural steel member, bracket means secured to said member at one end thereof, a rod carried by said bracket means and extending at right angles to said member, a yoke pivotally supported on said rod, a pin projecting from said yoke in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said member, and a cable receiving head adjustably supported on said pin.

5. Well drilling and pumping mechanism com prising a base, a Samson post supported on said base, a walking beam mounted for rocking movement on said Samson post, a transversely extending rod arranged above said beam at one end thereof, a yoke member pivotally supported on said rod, a pin carried by said yoke and extending in a plane substantially parallel to said beam, a cable receiving head provided adjacent its upper end with a socket for the reception of said pin whereby said head is adjustable in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said beam, and means carried by said yoke to secure said head in its positions of adjustment.

6. Well operating mechanism comprising a base, a Samson post carried by said base, a walking beam mounted for rocking movement on said Samson post, upwardly projecting bracket means secured to said beam adjacent one end, a transversely extending rod carried in connection with the upper portion of said bracket means, a yoke member pivotally supported on said rod, a longitudinally extending pin carried by said yoke, a cable receiving head provided adjacent its upper end with a socket for the reception of said pin whereby said head is pivoted for swinging movement in a plane at right angles to the axis of said beam.

7. Well operating mechanism comprising a base, a Samson post carried by said base, a walking beam mounted for rocking movement on said Samson post, a yoke supported at one end of said beam for swinging movement in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said beam, an arcuate head pivotally secured to said yoke whereby said head will swing in a plane at right angles to the axis of said beam, a pair of chain elements, means for clamping one end of said chain element to the arcuate face of said head at the upper end thereof, and polish rod gripping means supported by the lower end of said chain element.

8. Well operating mechanism comprising a base, a Samson post carried by said base, a walking beam mounted for rocking movement on said Samson post, a yoke supported at one end of said beam for swinging movement in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said beam, a head provided with an arcuate outer surface pivotally secured to said yoke whereby said head is adjustable in a plane at right angles to the axis of said beam, means for securing said head in its adjusted positions, a pair of chain elements, clamp means securing the upper ends of said chain elements to the upper end of said head with a portion of said elements engaging the arcuate surface of said head, a polish rod hanger clamped to the lower end of said chain elements, and a polish rod grip engaging said hanger.

9. The combination with a walking beam, of a cable-receiving head positioned at one end of said beam, and a compound pivotal connection for uniting said head with said beam, said connection having a pair of pivots disposed at right angles to each other and providing for swinging movement of said head in the vertical plane of said beam and in a vertical plane transverse of the beam.

10. In well operating mechanism, an oscillatory walking beam mounted for oscillation in a vertical plane, a cable-receiving head disposed at one end of said beam, a pivotal connection uniting said head with said beam and providing for adjustment of the head in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal vertical plane of the beam, and securing means for maintaining the head in its operative positions of adjustment relative to said beam,

11. In well operating mechanism including a walking beam, bracket means provided at one end of said beam, pivot means supported by said brackets in a plane above said beam, a yoke member mounted on said pivot for swinging movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said beam, and a cable-receiving head secured to said yoke member, said head being adjustable in a plane disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

12. In well operating mechanism including a walking beam, a pair of spaced bracket members projecting upwardly at one end of said beam, a pivot extending between said bracket members, a yoke member supported by said pivot for movement in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the beam, 3, projection provided on said yoke, a cableereceiving head adjustably supported on said projection for movement in a plane disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis or said beam, means extending between said head and yoke for locking said head in the positions of adjustment, and means engaging said head and beam to lock said yoke and head against movement on said pivot.

13. In well operating mechanism having a walking beam, a cable-receiving head, means for securing said head to one end of said beam for pivotal adjustment in planes extending parallel to and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said beam, and means for securing said head in the various positions of adjustment.

CLIFFORD R. ATHY. 

